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be a cross between horses and water buffalo. Members of the wagon team were already unloading spools of hose made from either canvas or leather.
    There was no way, Kirk decided, that the villagers would be able to get the fire under control in time to save the trapped workers.
    â€œDamn,” he hissed through gritted teeth as he retrieved his communicator and flipped it open. “Kirk to Enterprise! ”
    â€œEnterprise. Lieutenant Sulu here, sir, ” came his helmsman’s prompt reply.
    â€œSulu, tell me Scotty’s got the transporters working.”
    â€œNot yet, sir.” Kirk heard the regret in the lieutenant’s voice. “They’re still not safe for biomatter transport.”
    There was nothing to be done about that now. “Have sickbay stand by for possible emergency triage to treat burn victims, and start prepping a shuttlecraft with the appropriate equipment and supplies.”
    Closing the communicator, the captain caught sight of McCoy looking over at him from where he knelt beside Jendra. The hint of an understanding and appreciative smile teased the corners of his mouth.
    â€œShut up,” Kirk said to his friend before turning to Spock. “Where are the trapped people?”
    The Vulcan pointed toward his left. “Toward the rear of the structure on the ground floor. Life-signs are weak.”
    â€œLet’s go, then,” Kirk said before taking off at a run down the length of the ironworks. Flames billowed from open windows on the second floor, licking at the structure’s exterior wood trim. Kirk spied a dark sliver farther along the wall and was buoyed to see that it was a door, standing open and offering unimpeded access to the building.
    â€œCome on, Spock!” Kirk yelled as he plunged through the doorway, the heat from the fire playing across his exposed skin the instant he was inside. Smoke stung his eyes and he reached up to cover his mouth with part of his hood. Inside the building, the only illumination was that offered by the blaze eating at the flammable materials around him. With Spock indicating the correct direction, the captain moved across the floor of the ironworks, dodging between equipment, tools, and burning debris that had fallen from the ceiling, all while trying to ignore the nagging feeling that the entire building was about to fall down around his ears.
    â€œHelp!” a voice called out from somewhere to his left, and Kirk turned to see a male Grennai waving in his direction, the man’s frantic plea and the emotion behind it channeled through Kirk’s universal translator. As he drew closer, the captain saw the panic in the man’s eyes. “We’re trapped in here! Help us!”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Kirk said, hoping to ease the man’s fears, “we’re going to get you out of here.” He placed his hands on the Grennai’s shoulders. “Where are the others?”
    â€œThis way!” the man replied, leading Kirk and Spock deeper into the building to where a group of five other Grennai were lying beneath a set of stairs in the rear corner of the room. A quick check revealed that all of the workers were unconscious, having succumbed to either the heat or smoke inhalation.
    The fire was close, Kirk knew, working its way across the structure’s wooden framework. Smoke thickened the air, making it difficult to see and even harder to breathe. As he pressed a fold of his robe over his mouth, the captain was sure he heard dull groans and creaks of protest as the burning building continued to deteriorate around them.
    Something cracked and snapped above and behind Kirk an instant before he felt a hand on his back pushing him forward. Struggling to keep his balance, he turned in time to see Spock narrowly avoiding a large, burning timber as it fell from the ceiling and plummeted to the cobblestone floor. Embers and ash swirled around the massive piece of wood as it came to rest